Season opener

I can’t believe it’s already here… it’s OCTOBER. In my personal life, it’s the start of the Christmas season… But in this corner of the blogosphere, media all across the United States are reminding us that OCTOBER is the start of the flu season.

From KFYR-TV, from North Dakota:

If you live in North Dakota, you know three thing for sure. The season change, winter hangs around a little too long, and flu season lasts even longer. Flu season starts in October and lasts through May, sometimes even June. And some years are worse than others.

From WHAS11.com of Kentucky, the website offers a list of flu clinics around Louisville open for the next two weeks where you can get a flu shot.

Palm Beach Daily News in Palm Beach, Florida:

Palm Beachers who want a flu vaccination can roll up their sleeves this week as Maxim Health Systems offers the first of two on-island clinics.

The flu-shot provider will offer the vaccines at the Publix Super Market, 265 Sunset Ave., from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The cost is $25. Maxim accepts Medicare Part B with no co-pay if Medicare is the primary insurance.
Maxim will offer a second clinic at the Palm Beach store from 3 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.

The Publix at the Lantana Shopping Center, 1589 W. Lantana Road, will also host two Maxim flu vaccination clinics: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 12 and from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 17.

The Independent Tribune in Kannapolis, North Carolina discusses the common flu as well as how to prepare for a pandemic flu epidemic.

“If people don’t have basic stores, if you don’t have food you have to go out and it can spread,” Pilkington said. “Food stores keep them at home. The CDC calls it “social distancing,” keeping people as far apart as possible to keep the flu from spreading more.” (Pilkington is: William F. Pilkington, chief executive officer and director of Public Health for Cabarrus Health Alliance)

The East Valley Tribune of Arizona:

Temperatures still hover around 100 degrees and you haven’t even put the pool toys away, but health care workers already are gearing up for the flu and urging seniors and others at risk to protect themselves now.

Across the country, more flu vaccine will be available this season than ever — more than 100 million doses are in production, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — a welcome contrast to the past two years when shortages panicked patients and sent nurses and doctors scrambling to inoculate the most vulnerable.

Since vaccine producers typically send shipments at a fairly steady clip from now through January, there’s also no telling how much will be available when demand peaks.

So even with 100 million doses, those who procrastinate until everyone else is sick could find themselves waiting for a flu shot, particularly if the flu hits early as it did last year.

So you get the big picture…. The take home message is to get the flu shot, or nasal spray if you like, as early as possible.